Making a bad gift good

Let’s face it. Not everyone is a great gift giver. We all know one or two people that no matter how hard they try, just never get it right. Yes, it is the thought that counts, but sometimes you wonder what they were thinking.

So now that the holidays are over, and you have a couple not so great gifts lying around, what do you do with them? We’ve got a few ways that can help you turn a bag gift into something good.

Exchange (1)

Return it. If you’re lucky enough to know where the person got the gift from, you can take it back to the store and try to return it. If you don’t have a receipt it may be a little bit more difficult, but you may at least get a store credit that you can then turn around and use on something you really want.

Swap

Swap it. They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. There are tons of websites where you can trade or swap for something you do want. You can also look into specific Facebook groups dedicated to your item. If you received a gift card from a place that you will never visit, check out a website like Raise.com. They give you cash for unwanted gift cards.

Donate (1)

Donate it. There are so many people in need and they may have use for the gift you don’t want. Plus, you get the added bonus of a little tax write-off and the warm feeling of knowing your gift went to a charitable organization.

Sell

Sell it. With auction sites and marketplaces all over social media, it shouldn’t be too hard to find someone who wants your bad gift. Just be careful especially when using social media for selling to make sure that the gift giver doesn’t find out you put it up for sale.

Regift

Re-gift it. Sometimes you get something and although it’s not your style at all, you know someone who would love it. Re-gifting happens all the time and whether you know it or not, you’ve likely been the recipient of someone else’s bad gift. The one thing you want to make sure of however is that the person you are re-gifting to has no connection to the one that gave it to you in the first place. That could get a bit awkward.

Keep it

Keep it. Depending on who gave you the gift it just might be something you want to keep for posterity and sentimental value. If it’s not something too big, tuck it away for safe keeping because that person may not be with you forever and this little keepsake from them is something you will remember them by forever.

In the end, a bad gift doesn’t have to be so bad afterall. Tell us about the worst gift you ever got in the comments or over on our Facebook page.

So you have leftover fruitcake… Now what?

There are two types of people. Those that love fruitcake, and those that don’t. If you happen to be in the 2nd group, but find yourself the recipient of a fruitcake gift this holiday season, your first instinct may be to re-gift it.

But what if you can’t think of a single person who may actually like the stuff? You don’t want to be wasteful and toss it, so what should you do with it? Believe it or not, there are ways to make fruitcake absolutely delicious. Here are four recipes you’ve just got to try that will give you a whole new opinion of Christmas fruitcake.

Fruitcake Bread Pudding

Fruitcake Bread Pudding – This is our very own recipe that turns what can be a dry cake into a moist delicious dessert. The recipe is super simple and you probably have all the ingredients on hand. You’ll need:

1 fruit cake

3 cups milk

1/2 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 Tbsp Vanilla

Rum Sauce

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

2 Tbsp whipping cream

4 tablespoons dark rum

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Tear or cut fruitcake into bite-sized pieces and put in baking dish. Whisk sugar and eggs together then add milk and vanilla. Pour this mixture over fruitcake pieces and let soak for at least 30 minutes. Then bake for 30 minutes.

While pudding is cooking, heat all sauce ingredients in a pan over medium heat at a simmer stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. About 15 minutes. Pour over warm bread pudding.

Fruitcake French Toast

Fruitcake French Toast – A great twist on this favorite breakfast food Myrecipes.com has a tasty recipe that’s sure to put a smile on your family’s face. If you want to use up other holiday ingredients, substitute ½ cup of eggnog for 2 of the eggs and the heavy cream.

Fruitcake Icecream

Fruitcake Ice Cream – So, so easy! Just chunk up leftover fruitcake and mix it into store-bought vanilla ice cream with some roasted blanched almonds. Another option is to mix the chunked-up cake into butter pecan ice cream. If shakes are your thing, give it whirl in the blender with a splash of milk!

Fruitcake Pops

Fruitcake Pops – Even the kids will love these and you can let them help you decorate them! All you need is 2 cups crumbled fruitcake and 7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into bits. Grind the fruitcake in a food processor until it forms a ball then using damp hands form your cake balls. Let the cake balls rest on waxed paper for 30 minutes and then put them on sticks. Melt your chocolate in the microwave stirring often until smooth and once completely melted; carefully dip the cake balls in the chocolate. Use Styrofoam or foil tightly wrapped over a deep pan to keep the pops upright until the chocolate hardens. Then decorate any way you wish!

There are many other ways to use that fruitcake besides these recipes that will make it delicious. Try using it in a trifle or mix it with yogurt and make a parfait. The possibilities are endless if you just get a little creative. We’d love to hear your ideas! Share them here or over on our Facebook page!

 

Embrace the holiday spirit with a family pajama day

The spirit of Christmas is much more than presents and shopping. This is the time of year where we celebrate love and we spend time with the people that mean the most to us.

There’s nothing more important than family and setting aside special time to be with one another is one of the best ways to build your family bond. One way you can all be together is by having a family pajama day at home doing all the things that you love. We’ve got some ideas for things that you and your family can add to your favorite holiday activities to get into the spirit and celebrate Christmas together.

Breakfast

Eat breakfast all day. What goes better with pajamas than breakfast? Make the whole day about eating breakfast foods because there’s nothing wrong with having omelets for lunch or French toast for dinner. Let the whole family participate in the cooking so you’re all spending quality time together prepping and eating your delicious creations.

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Pick out new pajamas for the holidays. Hop online and browse new pajamas that you all want to wear for opening presents on Christmas morning. Individual choices based on taste are great but think matching family pajamas too! They are always a big hit, and your family will have outfits for a perfect photo.

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Have a fashion show. If you have lots of sets of pajamas why not swap them out over the course of the day. Each time you change, do a little runway show modeling your new look. Accessorize with festive socks, robes, and blankets too!

Cookies

Decorate holiday cookies. You can bake the cookies ahead of time, and then set up a decorating station with a variety of colored icings, sprinkles, toppings, and more. Consider baking and decorating more than your family will eat so you can give them to neighbors and friends as tasty gifts.

Fort

Build a fort. A lazy pajama day almost always involves hiding out in your own homemade fort. You can use a tent, sheets, blankets, or anything else that you have around the house to build a cool little shelter. Decorate it with twinkle lights to really give it a holiday feel.

Child Sleep

Teach the benefits of sleep. Kids should know how important sleep is to their development and sneaking in a little lesson during your pajama day is a great way to reiterate it as well as explain why they need to stay on their sleep schedule even during the holiday break.

Holiday Movies

Watch holiday movies. With so many titles to choose from you can absolutely make a full day of watching movies. Pop some corn, heat up some cocoa, and let the fun begin.

dogs

 

Don’t forget to include your pets. They make pajamas for your pets! Don’t let Fido be left out of the family fun.

We hope your holiday family pajama day will be full of memories! Feel free to share your pictures on our Facebook page and tell us all about what you did on your special day!

7 Ways You Can Support Small Businesses

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is known as Small Business Saturday. It’s a day dedicated to recognizing the millions of small businesses in the United States, and is designed to encourage people to shop small and bring more holiday shopping dollars to these small businesses as opposed to big-box retailers.

In today’s day and age, it’s more important than ever that we show support for both local shops and small online sellers that sometimes struggle to compete with large chains and mega-retailers. Here are five ways that you can support the little guy and make a big difference in their bottom line.

Shop

Shop their stores. The best way that you can support a small business is by spending money in their stores and on their websites. Not only do you help them to remain in business, but you ensure that they will be around for years to come.

Gift Card

Give their gift cards. Everywhere you go you’ll find gift cards for sale for huge national businesses. They are easy to buy right as you check out at many stores. Why not go out of your way and stop at a local shop or go to a small businesses’ website and spend your money there instead?  It really helps out the mom and pop shops that vie for your business and work hard to stay afloat. You may also introduce the recipient of the gift card to a business they have never shopped before.

Positive Review

Write a positive review. We’re always quick to post negative reviews if we have a bad experience but if you have a wonderful interaction at a small business; it’s just as important, if not more, that you share your great experience with other people. Your positive online review is the perfect way to give a small business a boost.

Share Purchase

Share your purchases. If you buy something that you just love, share it with your friends and family through pictures on social media. Many times people don’t know what some of these small stores and online retailers sell. This is a great way of showing their merchandise to other people who may also be interested in the same type of thing or be inspired to check it out themselves.

Sub to NL

Subscribe to their newsletter. Small businesses depend on staying front of mind when it comes to earning business and repeat shoppers. One of the ways they do this is by sharing news, sales, and new merchandise with their customers. Email newsletters are the most popular and efficient way to get the word out and keep you in the loop on all their exclusive content.

Follow Us

Be social. Following a small business online, commenting, liking, sharing their posts, and tagging them are all ways to bring attention to their stores. The more interaction a small business has online, the bigger their boost when it comes to being discovered by new shoppers.

Referral

Refer friends and family. If you love a small business tell everyone! Scream from the highest mountain how great your favorite shop or online seller is. Every time you talk about them you potentially encourage a new customer to check them out.

As a small business ourselves, we are thankful for the amazing customer relationships we have developed over the years and are grateful to all of you that have continued to support The Pajama Company. We look forward to being the go-to for all your pajama needs for many years to come.

8 Activities you can do after your Thanksgiving Meal

Thanksgiving is here. It’s time to get together with family and friends and start the holiday season off and celebrate all that we have to give thanks for. Once the turkey, stuffing, cranberries, sweet potatoes, and pie have been consumed, it’s very easy to plop down in front of the TV with the remote in hand and just veg out. How about instead of doing nothing, consider some of these ideas to will keep you busy and active for the rest of the day.

Dishes

Clean up. More than half of American households do not completely clean up after their Thanksgiving meal. It’s easy to put all the dishes in the kitchen on a full belly and say “I’ll deal with that later.” Why not just get it all done? You’ll have nothing to worry about the next day and you’ll be ready to do your Black Friday shopping or just enjoy a bonus day off of work. If you engage all your guests it takes no time at all, and the conversations can keep rolling while you all do dishes.

Decorating Holidays

Decorate for the holidays. A huge meal can make it hard to get motivated, but if you start decorating for the holidays after your meal, you not only help your digestion by keeping your body moving, but you’re transitioning right into the spirit of the season. You don’t have to do it all, but staying active prevents that tryptophan from kicking in and putting you down for the rest of the day.

Walk (1)

Take a walk. If you’re fortunate to have nice weather on Thanksgiving, take advantage of it. In many parts of the country, the cold wind and snow of winter will be taking over soon so get out, get some fresh air, some vitamin D, and as a bonus, you’ll walk off some of those calories you just ingested.

Twister

Play games. There are plenty of games to keep you active without overdoing it. Think Twister, charades, corn-hole, or a friendly game of football.

TG Crafting

Work on holiday crafts. After Thanksgiving dinner is the perfect time to get the family’s creative juices flowing. Put on your matching family pajamas, pull out the supplies crate, and start your holiday crafting. You’ll be glad you did once the hustle and bustle sets in and you suddenly realize you’ve run out of time to do all those things you planned to do.

Christmas Cards

Get started on your holiday cards. If you plan on sending holiday cards this year, after your Thanksgiving meal is a great time to get the ball rolling. With expected post office slowdowns this year, starting sooner than later will get them in people’s mailboxes on time and you won’t have to rush to get them done.

Voulenteer

Volunteer together. Consider heading to a shelter or soup kitchen to help serve meals to people who may not be as fortunate as you are. If you don’t have a shelter in your area, perhaps you have an elderly neighbor or friend who may not have family to spend the holiday with. Bring them a meal, spend some time with them, and maybe even help them out with some simple chores around the house like raking leaves or cleaning up. They will be thankful for you and that is what this holiday is all about.

BF Shopping List

Prep for Black Friday. Supply shortages and high demands may make your shopping a bit more difficult this year. If you plan in advance and have a strategy for what you need, where you’re going to get it, and set an actual schedule, your holiday shopping adventure will go much more smoothly.

We hope these ideas motivate you to have a full, fantastic Thanksgiving from the time you get up until the time you hit the sack. We all have plenty to be thankful for so let’s make the most of the day.

From all of us at The Pajama Company Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

 

Easing your pet into the end of Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time ends November 7th and it’s time to “fall back” into shorter days, longer nights, and cooler weather. Typically it doesn’t take long for humans to adjust to the time change but our pets don’t get their routines by following the same clock that we use to stay on schedule. They have what’s called circadian rhythm– which is their biological – or internal – clock that signals when it’s time to eat, sleep, go potty, and more.  So, changing the clock back even an hour can affect your pets.

Since explaining the sudden change to them is not an option, we have to do a little preparation in advance to avoid the confusion, anxiety, and unwanted behavior associated with a schedule change. After all, they’re getting attention, food, exercise, and potty time an hour later than they are accustomed to. Here are some pointers for making the transition a smooth one.

Feeding

Feeding time. Many pets are fed at a set time in the morning, evening, or both. When you set the clock back, they are being fed a whole hour late. The best plan of attack is to start the week beforehand feeding them later than normal in 10-15 minute increments leading up to the time change so they can acclimate gradually. Don’t be surprised however if during this new cycle your pet is sitting by their bowl looking at you with that “I’m hungry” look we all know too well.

Walking

Potty time. Most dogs are used to going out at very specific times to get their business done. When you sleep an hour later their internal clock can go haywire. In the weeks leading up to the time change, hold off on morning or evening walks for 10-minute increments just like feeding. Don’t force your pup to hold it for too long however, — just enough for them to ease into the new time.

Bonding

Bonding time. Your pet’s time with you is the most important thing in their lives. When you go to work, they miss you. Right after the time change they actually think they are getting an extra hour with you in the morning. But when you’re not home when they expect you as the sun hits that certain point in the sky, they can suffer added anxiety which leads to unwanted behaviors like having accidents or destroying your belongings. Start acclimation early by running a few short errands after work so your pet can adapt to you arriving home when the sun is down. Also, make sure to give your pet a little extra attention in the weeks after the change so they know how much you love them.

Medicine

Medication dispensing. Some pets may be affected if they are on medications where the time of each dose is critical. Examples would be diabetic pets on insulin or pets on anti-seizure drugs. Contact your veterinarian for specific instructions on how to administer medication during a time change.

Dog Mess

Patience. Unfortunately, not all activities can be gradually eased into. If you are away at work all day and your pet has not completely adjusted an accident or anxiety can happen. Be understanding in these instances and don’t punish them. He or she will adjust quickly and things will return to normal before you know it.

You may also want to consider changing your schedule. Instead of taking the full extra hour of sleep on Sunday, Set the alarm 10 or 15 minutes later each day until everyone in the household is getting up at the new time. It will make the Daylight Saving Time switch a positive experience, as opposed to a stressful one.

Does the end of Daylight Saving Time bother your pet? Do you do anything to help them adjust? Let us know below or over on our Facebook page.

Why We Need Quiet Time

Our lives and our world are full of noise and distractions. Sometimes so much so that we lose focus on what we need to get done. We also forget to take the time for some peace and quiet which is an important part of our overall well-being.

Many people view taking time for solitude and serenity as a luxury they simply cannot afford because let’s face it; if we aren’t doing anything then we’re getting nothing done. This mindset stops us from taking the time we need to grow, renew, and revive.

Look at it from a different perspective, when you take in the silence you allow yourself to engage in time for self-reflection and awareness. Everyone needs quiet time, but what does it entail and how will you benefit? We have some thoughts on that.

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  1. Renewal requires rest

It’s simply impossible to just go, go, go without resting. Everything requires repair and maintenance including the human body. The easy part is relaxing the body; it’s relaxing the mind that’s the hard part. Meditation is a great way to check-out for a bit, mute the noise in your head, and gain the peace you need.

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  1. Rediscover what’s important

When caught up in the whirlwind that is our daily routine, we forget or even ignore what really matters. When you have too many responsibilities or waste time on unnecessary tasks, you lose sight of the important things. You need quiet time to rediscover what you’ve neglected and to revisit priorities.

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  1. Make order from chaos.

When you’re knee-deep in a commotion of activity there is no time for prioritizing tasks. You’re too busy crossing things off the list. The best time to examine the reasons behind what you do in life is best found during quiet moments to yourself.

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  1. Quiet time reinforces your meaning

The human mind needs time to put things into perspective. This can’t be done when you are doing 20 things at once or always chasing deadlines. You need peaceful silence to do that. Only then are you able to rejuvenate and reboot.

Nap

  1. Quiet time is a stress eliminator

You might not be able to completely escape stress, but you can certainly practice ways to mitigate it. One quick and simple way to reduce stress is to  regularly carve out 15-30 minutes of your day to sit quietly alone, meditate, read a book or listen to music, go for a peaceful walk, or put on your pajamas and take a quick nap. If you have even more time (such as a long lunch break) use it. But it’s not all about how long you’re quiet; it’s about making time for it in your life no matter the length of time. It’s the easiest way to nourish your mind and body so you can return to your routine with more energy and focus.

Healthy

  1. Heal and stay healthy with quiet time

Medical professionals use dark, quiet rooms for patient recovery from surgery and illness for good reason. Any form of healing, both medical and physical require complete rest and relaxation so that your body and mind to recuperate. Similarly, when you learn to wind down improve your chances of staving off future health problems and disease. A body under less stress has a higher immunity level.

Quite time may seem like an unreasonable goal but believe us, it’s totally attainable. Plan it, do it, and make no excuses for taking the time you need.

Five Fabulous Ways to Enjoy Fall Football

Fall is many people’s favorite season. Whether it’s the cooler temperatures, the changing of the leaves, or everything pumpkin spice there’s something about fall that is just warm and inviting. It’s also the time when football returns to stadiums, living rooms, and sports bars all across the country.  Regardless if it’s the Friday night lights at your local high school, supporting your alma mater, or cheering on your favorite professional team, one thing is certain; Americans can’t get enough of this exciting sport!

Going to an actual game and watching in person is something every fan should experience at least once, but it can be very expensive and not practical on a regular basis. It can be just as fun (and with fewer hassles) to get creative on your own and set up the ultimate football lover’s experience. We’ve got 5 great ideas for doing just that!

Outdoor Living Room 1

Set up a backyard living room. Fall temperatures are perfect for hanging out in the backyard with a bunch of snacks, a TV, and your family to watch your favorite team. You’ll get fresh air, you can make all the noise you want, and you don’t have to worry about long bathroom lines! Once the neighbors see how much fun you’re having, don’t be surprised if they bring over their own chairs to join the party!

Homegating

Homegait. One of the best parts about going to the stadium is the pre-game tailgating. The smell of grills cooking and the sound of fans getting ready for the day’s showdown are exhilarating. Recreate that in your own driveway! Invite your friends and neighbors over, set up a big TV, and get the grill going. Make it a potluck where everyone brings their favorite tailgating dish and you’re on your way to a party they’ll talk about all season!

Radio Listen

Listen on the radio. Believe it or not, back in the day, not everyone had a color TV – or A TV for that matter. Take a step back in time and just listen to the game while using your imagination to visualize the action on the field. The announcers that call the games over the radio airwaves are outstanding at making sure you feel the excitement and understand every detail of every play. Make a day of it by taking a drive to see fall foliage while you listen.

Sports bar

Visit a sports bar. There’s something about being surrounded by a bunch of strangers all rooting for the same team that really instills a sense of community. Many sports bars offer drink and food specials so you don’t have to do the pouring or cooking. You can just sit back and watch the plays while others do the work

Family

Have a football pajama party. Weekends are for winding down and there’s no better way to relax than staying in your PJs all day. Order Pizza, plop down on the couch, and get ready for some football. With no distractions, you won’t miss any of the important plays or game winning touchdown!

How do you do football? Tell us here in the comments of head over to our Facebook page and tell us there!

Specialty care packages for your college student

Sending a child off to college for the first time is a period filled with emotion. Exciting, sad, stressful, and worried are all a part of the experience. You want them to get their education, become independent, and follow their dreams, but you still want to take care of them the best you can.

For the kids, when they are away from home, it may take a while until they realize that they no longer have the comforts of home at their fingertips. Don’t fret – we’ve got some specialized college care package ideas that you can get together and send off that will allow you to take care of them from afar and help them adjust to their new living arrangements.

Plaid Life

The stay warm care package. In many parts of the country, cool fall temperatures are settling in. Make sure that your student stays warm and toasty on those blustery fall days with things like:

  • Flannel pajamas
  • A new mug and hot chocolate or coffee
  • A mug warmer (if the dorm allows it)
  • Instant soup mix and instant oatmeal
  • A cuddly blanket
  • Slippers and socks
  • Scarves and hats

Home away

Home-away-from-home package. One of the hardest things about being away at college is making a dorm room feel like home. Help them make it more than just a place they sleep and study with the care package that includes items they can use to decorate based on their style. Consider items such as:

  • Cute signs with favorite quotes
  • Decorations from their own bedroom at home
  • Seasonal decor
  • A small chalkboard or dry erase board so that roommates or friends can leave notes on for one another
  • Scented candles
  • Homemade cookies

self care

Self-care package. As we all know, toiletries and personal care items can be very expensive and this type of package is always appreciated. Fill it with:

  • Shampoo & Conditioner
  • Razors
  • Deodorant
  • Loofahs
  • Toothpaste and tooth brush
  • Scented lotions
  • Plastic flip-flops for the showers

First Aid

A first-aid package. One of the things young adults send it to forget about once they leave the convenience at home is making sure they have first-aid products on hand in case of a minor incident. Get them set up with a box filled with:

  • Band-Aids
  • Vitamin C and multi-vitamins
  • Facial tissues
  • Anti-biotic ointment
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
  • General cold medicines like Dayquil or cough drops

College Laundry

Keep clean package. Whether they have to clean their dorm room or get some laundry done, a package full of these types of products will definitely help take care of some of their needs:

  • A handheld vacuum
  • Paper towels
  • Anti-bacterial wipes
  • Air freshener
  • Laundry pods (which are easy for them to transport)
  • A mesh bag for washing delicates
  • A roll of quarters for doing the laundry

Stress

The stress-relief package. Being away from everything they have always known can be a very stressful time for students – especially those leaving for the first time. Send them a package of stress-relieving items that will help them relax and work their way into their new living surroundings:

  • Aromatherapy diffuser
  • Back or foot massager
  • A bonsai tree or Chia Pet (that they can nurture and take care of)
  • A soothing eye mask that they can heat up
  • A relaxing music copulation
  • Herbal tea

Taking care of your kids is your number one priority but now it’s time for them to spread their wings and become young adults. These little boxes of goodies will show them how much you love them and help them make the transition to the next phase of their life. You got this… and they got this too!

Back to the office: Tips for a smooth transition

For many people, September will mark a real return to normal, as employees all over the country return to the office. Even if it’s on a flex schedule where it will only be a couple of days a week, the sheer thought can fill you full of anxiety. It’s to be expected. For the last 18 months or so you’ve been working remotely in your comfy clothes, having virtual meetings, and enjoying all the comforts of home while doing your job.

So how do you make the transition back? It’s not like you didn’t manage for all those years before the pandemic hit, but it still feels like you can’t even remember what it feels like to “go” to work. The following tips should help get you back to your old ways without too much stress

Routine

Remember your old routine. Think back to how you used to do things. What time did you normally go to bed?  What time did you get up? Did you shower in the morning or the night before? You have to get back to that or you’re going to have a tough time. Start doing these things now before your official “back to the office day” so you can ease back into your routine comfortably.

Construction

Consider drive time. Not everyone will be returning to their respective jobs at the same time and some will continue to work remotely full time. Don’t assume because of this you can leave the house later than normal to be on time. You’ll also have to check into road construction. It’s been a year and a half since you made the drive. Do you know if any of the roads on your route are under construction?

Lunch work

Think lunch. While you’re working from home it’s easy to go to the fridge and grab something for lunch or whip yourself up a quick salad or sandwich. Now you have to start thinking about bringing your lunch to work again. Do a little ahead of time meal planning to get you back in the mode. Create a list for a few weeks until you get your groove back.

App

Dinner too. Now that you’re going to be away for the day, what will you feed the family after work? Do you need to pull something from the freezer? Once you’re at work it’s too late. Lists and notes are a great way to keep you in check. Better yet, download an organizing app that you can plug all your reminders into.

Working dog

Get back in the office frame of mind. We’re all more laid-back at home. Our mindset, attire, and overall attitudes, are just more casual. There likely won’t be a dog lying under your desk either. Now that you’re going back into the office you’ll have to channel your inner professional a little more.  Don’t forget that you’re going to be around fellow employees and bosses all day who expect that same productive person that they could count on before.

Laundry

Make a to-do list. Slipping away from your desk to do a load of laundry or vacuum the living room during the workday is a thing of the past. These things will now have to be done during your free time so before you get overwhelmed, it would be a good idea to plan when you will take care of your regular household chores. The schedule you make will morph over time but in the beginning, it will help you stay organized instead of flustered.

Support

Seek and give support. Remember you aren’t the only one who has to readjust to the return to normalcy. Be open and honest about your own concerns and do your best to support co-workers that are also having a tough time. For many, this won’t be easy and the best thing you can have is a strong support group behind you.

At the end of the day, you really aren’t doing anything you didn’t do before this pandemic hit. You will likely wonder how you could have possibly managed before, but you did. And you will again- we promise!